26 MANAGEMENT OF FLOCK. 



crushing would result, or else in small heaps on the field. A full 

 supply of roots to in-lamb ewes must never be given or probably 

 bad results will follow. Allowing the breeding ewes to follow up 

 the feeding sheep and clean up the old stumps of turnips is a 

 very bad practice, fraught with much danger to the ewes and 

 their progeny. 



Some month or six weeks before lambing, a little trough food 

 is sound economy, as the lambs are much healthier and the ewes 

 much stronger and less likely to succumb to a difficult lambing 

 time. The best linseed cake or whole oats are an excellent food, 

 so also is a mixture of boiled linseed, crushed oats and bran, with 

 pulp and cut stuff. In practice this strengthening and emollient 

 mixture greatly assists a safe and easy parturition. It is of great 

 importance that no crushing should take place at the troughs, 

 therefore ample trough accommodation must be provided. 



By a simple process of marking with paint, say on the left or 

 right hip, the ewes which are to lamb first, and continuing 

 different markings for each succeeding period, the shepherd will 

 be able so to arrange it as never to crowd the lambing fold, and 

 so minimise the risk of abortion by crushing. 



The first batch of ewes to lamb should be placed in a small 

 field as near the lambing fold as possible, preferably in a field on 

 a naturally dry and healthy spot as much sheltered as possible, 

 which should consist of an enclosure of hurdles, with pens on two 

 or more sides of the same, well stuffed with straw, and thatched 

 or covered with hedge brushing, or any other rubbish easy to 

 hand. Arrange the fold so as to be open to the South, and 

 protect as much as possible against North and East winds. 



The enclosure (not including the small pens) to be perfect, 

 should have a sparred raised floor in sections, so as to be easily 

 lifted, made of creosoted wood, which can be brushed and kept 

 clean daily with very little labour. A floor of this description 

 ensures cleanliness and healthy suroundings, and the ewes are 

 not so apt to contract foot-rot, which is otherwise very likely to 

 recur in these closely confined and very often dirty wet folds. 



